Ed de Moel

Child Ballads - Additions and Corrections

99. Johnie Scott

P. 379. A. Considering that Sir Walter Scott professes to have derived some variations from recitation in the south of Scotland (see the note, IV, 387), the copy in "Scottish Songs" may be fully collated, small as will be the value of the result.

'John the Little Scott,' fol. 24.

1   John the Scot was as brave a knight
As ever shook a speir,
And he is up to fair England,
The king's braid banner to bear.
2   And while he was in fair England,
Sae fair his hap did prove
That of the king's ae daughter dear
He wan the heart and love.
3   But word is gane to the English king,
And an angry man was he,
And he has sworn by salt and bread
They should it dear abye.
   4 wanting.
51. Then Johny's gane.
52,4. I wot.
53. the English.
63,4.   To hear some news from his true love,
Least she had sufferd wrang.
72. That will win hose and shoon.
73. will gang into.
81. Then up there.
9 wanting.
103. to grass growing.
111. And when: to the king's castle.
113. saw that fair ladye.
122, 132. ain sel.
124. And speer na your father's.
131. Here take
133. to feir Scotland.
134. Your true love waits.
141. The ladie turned her round about.
144. Unless.
152. In prison pinching cold.
153. My garters are of.
154. the silk and gold.
163. And hie thee back to yon Scottish knight.
171. quickly sped.
181. He told him then that ladie's words.
182. He told him.
183,4.   But ere the tale was half said out
Sae loudly to horse he did ca.
194. That should have been my bride.
201. And spak his mither dear.
203. For gin you 're taen.
204. ye'll.
211. and spak.
212. And Johny's true.
214. And his surety I will.
22.   Then when they cam to English ground
They gard the mass be sung,
And the firsten town that they cam to
They gard the bells be rung.
231. And the nextin: cam to.
234. Were.
241. And when: the high castle.
242. rode.
253. Or is it.
261. I 'm not.
262. James our.
263. But Johny Scot, the little Scot.
271. is thy name.
273. eer.
281. and spak the gallant.
283. hundred.
284. That will die or.
291. and spak.
292. And sae scornfully leugh he.
293. my bower
301. boon, said the little Scot.
302. Bring forth your.
303. falls.
304. I hae.
31   Out then cam that Italian knight,
A griesly sight to see;
Between his een there was a span,
Between his shoulders three and three.
  And forth then came brave John the Scot,
He scarcely reachd his knee,
Yet on the point of Johny's brand
The Italian knight did die.
32   And syne has he waved his bludie glaive,
And slait it on the plain;
'Are there any more Italian dogs
That you wish to be slain?'
33   'A clerk, a clerk,' the king he cried,
'To register this deed;'
'A priest, a priest,' Pitnochtan cried,
'To marry us wi speed.'
34 wanting.

384. A copy of D was sent by Motherwell to C.K. Sharpe with a letter of December 6, 1824, in which many of the variations of b were introduced into a.

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